EU agrees to extend economic sanctions on Russia until 2020

FILE PHOTO: Euro coins are seen in front of a banknote of Russian rouble in this picture illustration taken in Zenica, April 21, 2015. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to prolong until the end of January 2020 economic sanctions against Russia over the turmoil in Ukraine, a spokesman for the bloc said.

The EU first slapped sanctions on Russia after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 and supported rebels fighting Kiev troops in the east of the country. That conflict, which killed 13,000 people, is still simmering.